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Susquehanna County secured a $2 million investment through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) to support the replacement of the Salt Springs Road Bridge (County Bridge #11), a vital gateway to Salt Springs State Park that spans Silver Creek. The project will modernize aging infrastructure while strengthening access to one of the region's most popular outdoor destinations, supporting tourism, local businesses, and the outdoor recreation economy that draws visitors to the area year-round.

A recent engineering inspection determined the existing bridge is in "poor" condition. The bridge poses safety and reliability concerns for residents, visitors, and emergency responders. The new bridge will improve structural integrity, increase load capacity, and provide safer, more dependable access to the park while supporting long-term transportation and recreation needs in the county.

Replacing the bridge will significantly benefit outdoor recreation and tourism, ensuring access to Salt Springs State Park for hikers, campers, anglers and nature enthusiasts. The park is a major regional destination, and improved infrastructure will enhance the visitor experience while helping sustain local businesses that depend on outdoor tourism.

"This project is about safety, access, and economic vitality," said the Susquehanna County Commissioners. "We are extremely proud to have received the fourth-largest award out of 54 funded projects statewide. This investment demonstrates the importance of this bridge not only to our county, but to the broader transportation and recreation network of Pennsylvania."

The Multimodal Transportation Fund supports projects that improve freight movement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and access to economic and recreational assets across the Commonwealth. The state announced on Dec. 23, 2025, that 54 projects in 34 counties had been selected to receive more than $47 million in funding through the MTF. The replacement of the Salt Springs Road Bridge aligns with these goals by ensuring reliable access to one of the region's most valued natural resources.

Design and construction timelines will be announced as the project advances.

Those attending the January meeting of the New Milford Borough Council on the 5th – all 3 of us – had the privilege of pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America not once, but twice. For Council combined its annual reorganization, required by statute on the first Monday of January, with its regular monthly meeting. And it all took little more than 40 minutes.

Aside from swearing in 4 newly (re-)elected members, the reorganization part did little reorganizing, leaving everything more or less just as it was: President Kerin Welch, Vice President Donna Cosmello, Amy Hine as Secretary/Treasurer and Open Records officer, all committees and boards the same, Peoples Security the Borough's bank (despite some past quibbles over fees), etc.

The only hitch was the designation of the Borough's solicitor, who has been Michael Briechle for the longest time. Some members of Council are dissatisfied with Mr. Briechle's service, which, in the words of Ms. Welch, has been "getting worse, and worse, and worse." For example, a parking ordinance that has been on the agenda for at least 3 years, has been on Mr. Briechle's desk for at least that long. Council is also waiting for a required ordinance related to the bridge project on Johnston Street. Mr. Briechle (who represents some 12 municipalities in Susquehanna County) charges about $150 per hour for his services; Michael Giangrieco, who also represents several municipalities in the county, told Ms. Hine in an email communication, that his charges would be $335 per hour. But Mr. Briechle seems to charge for each communication. Would another firm behave the same way? Council decided to table the matter until its next meeting.

The last meeting only 2½ weeks before, the agenda for this month's regular meeting was kinda sparse. A letter from the Susquehanna County Housing and Redevelopment Authority announced a plan to build 5 housing units on Main Street for people aged 55 and above, with construction to begin in the spring. Council decided to table consideration of the plan for another month.

The pre-bid meeting having taken place last month, bids are to be opened by the Housing Authority (which is overseeing the project grant) on January 8 for the project to repair/replace the failing bridge on Maple Street over Smith Creek.

And, Council member Don Button questioned the scheduling of Great Bend police officers in New Milford. Last month New Milford was charged for 22 hours of coverage, but were most of those hours in the evenings, as requested? Mayor Scott Smith was asked to take this up with Great Bend Borough.

The next public meeting of the New Milford Borough Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026 beginning at 6:30pm. That was another thing that wasn't changed at the reorganization meeting: monthly meetings are to continue on the third Thursday beginning at 6:30pm at the Borough offices on Main Street.

The Great Bend Borough Council finally filled its last opening at its regular January meeting on the 8th by appointing Liz Landes to resume her seat for 2 years following a peculiar election result.

At the November election, Ms. Landes and Joseph Mann each received 8 write-in votes. Ordinarily in such cases, the winner is decided by picking dominoes from a hat at the courthouse in Montrose. Neither contestant appeared for the drawing (although Ms. Landes sent a representative), and Mr. Mann apparently didn't submit the proper paperwork. As a result, no one was actually elected for the seat on Council, and no one was seated at Council's reorganization meeting on January 5. So Council at its regular meeting 3 days later filled the opening by appointment.

Otherwise, the meeting was uneventful. Council will be offering to sell the empty lot at 279 Main Street (next to the Kime apartment building). The Borough has more than $40,000 in the property – for legal and demolition costs – but Council doesn't really expect to get all of that back. A neighbor wanted to use the property, but the cost of insurance prohibited him from following through, although he may ultimately bid to purchase the lot himself.

Ms. Landes has been a major supporter of the little town's 3 parks. She outlined some of her plans to refurbish the memorial at VFW Recreation park off Spring Street, with financing yet to be determined. Council also discussed the ice rink usually installed at Wiegand Memorial Park in the center of the village, but considering the uncharacteristically warm weather, not much came of that.

Council President Rick Franks asked his colleagues to inspect the town's streets and report back next month so they can consider which are in most need of work this summer. Everyone acknowledged that Carroll Street will head the list. In fact, Carroll Street will soon be outfitted with signs designating a strip next to the Kime building for use by fire company equipment only.

The town's police chief reported allocating 17.5 hours in Great Bend, 22 hours in New Milford, and 5.5 hours in Hallstead for the month of December 2025. Council tries to meet with officer Dale Smith before each regular monthly meeting.

The next public meeting of the Great Bend Borough Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026 beginning at 7:00pm at the Borough building at Elizabeth & Franklin Streets.